Marginal shaping and sealing means for respiratory masks



March 3, 1959 E. A. GA-LLEHER, JR

MARGINAL 2,875,757 SHAPING AND SEALING MEANS FOR RESPIRATORY MASKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29; 1954 INVENTOR. 621. /s A. GAME/{ER Jk.

March 3, 1959 A. GALLEHER, JR 2,875,757

MARGINAL SHAPING AND SEALING MEANS FOR RESPIRATORY MASKS Filed Jan. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f JNVENTOR. J (Us .4. GALEHER A? a. 6 By L; ArraQA/EY United States Patent MARGINAL SHAPING AND SEALING MEANS FOR RESPIRATORY MASKS Ellis A. Galleher, Jr., Sarasota, Fla.

Application January 29, 1954, Serial No. 407,081

Claims. (Cl. 128-146) This invention is an improvement in respiratory masks and more particularly of the type used to supply oxygen, anesthesia and similar gases to the patient.

One of the objects of my invention is a mask having a marginal face engaging portion which is easily. formed or shaped by hand to comfortably fit a wide range of face contours.

A further object of the invention is a mask of this type whiqh is of simple designand which is adapted to conform with various face contours and to thereby eliminate leakage of gas-between the mask and the patients face when the mask is applied in use.

Another object of the present invention is a respiratory mask having contour forming and contour retaining means marginally located along the rear portions of the mask and preferably within the mask material.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a peripheral contour forming and retaining means in a mask body whereby the mask may be adjusted com forta'bly against the contour of the patients face by forming the contour of the peripheral portion of the mask to substantially match that of the individual patients face, thereby eliminating the need for the application of external pressure to the mask to force the mask into sealing relation with the patients face.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a mask of the type defined having a flexible peripheral portion for sealing engagement throughout with the contour of a patients face whereby in fitting the same the entire peripheral or marginal portion may be flexed for comfortable engagement with the patients face and whereby, when the mask is so comfortably fitted, the mask will retain the set adjustment and peripheral form which has been given to the mask in fitting the same to the contour of an individual patients face.

A still further object of the invention is a mask of the type indicated in which the contour forming and holding member is provided with a plurality of head strap retention members arranged in spaced relation around the periphery of the face-engaging portion of the mask.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a plurality of head strap retention members peripherally located about the mask in which some of said members are located near the bottom peripheral portion of the mask whereby when a head strap is applied to the mask in use, rocking action of the mask upon the face will be avoided.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a flexible peripheral forming member adapted to be applied to an anesthesia mask or the like and having outwardly extending retention lugs or the like spaced about said member and integral therewith and extending beyond the periphery of the mask whereby a head strap may be attached to comfortably hold the mask in sealed relation to the contours of the patients face.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, reference being made to the ac- 2,875,757 Patented Mar. 3, 1959 companying drawing in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a respiratory mask embodying a form of my invention shown applied to a patient in use;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through a mask embodying my invention taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the mask shown in Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the contour forming member carried peripherally at the rear of the mask;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of a head strap employed to hold the mask on a patients head.

Respiratory masks which are now in common use possess certain disadvantages in use, some of those disadvantages being that due to the inability inherent in the mask body to adjust such mask to a comfortable fit or conformity with the contour of a patients face, a loss or escape of gases supplied to the mask and between the peripheral edges of the mask and the patients face often occurs; that a more or less rigid mask construction which is applied to a patients face quite frequently, due to the differences in the contour of that portion of the mask which engages the patients face and the contour of the patients face, makes a comfortable fit or adjustment of the conventional mask in use quite impossible; that the usual custom of applying a retainer ring with lugs on the forward nose portion ofthe mask for receiving the openings in a head strap subjects the mask to an unstable positioning on the patients face and often results in a rocking action. This latter disadvantage is due primarily to a more or less focused area of attachment considerably forward of the masks rear or face engaging peripheral portion.

With my present invention, I have overcome these difliculties and have produced a mask which is simple in construction and which can readily be formed to a fitting contour by the application of pressure along the periphery thereof by the attendant and which will retain the contour so applied to it. It will readily be seen that because of the ability of the mask to be shaped to the individual patients face, it will be unnecessary to keep in stock a number of masks of different standard sizes andishapes.

Referring more particularly to the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, the mask body is indicated generally at 5 and comprises a body of semi-rigid material such as rubber or rubber compounds having relatively thick walls 6 which converge forwardly of the mask terminating in an orifice 7 Within which is fitted an elbow of any suitable design and having a passage through which a gas may be communicated from a source of supply to the interior of the mask. The lower end of the elbow 8 may be provided with suitable coupling means for a hose supplying a gas to the mask. i

The maskbody. shown in" the drawings may be de scribed as comprising a nose portion 9 which overlies the bridge of the nose in use and which extends forwardly over the nose of the patient. Cheek portions 10 extend downwardly and forwardly from the nose portion on each side of the mask body and terminate at the base of the mask in a chin portion 11. The check and chin portions are for the most part formed of relatively thick walls as indicated at 6 which terminate rearwardly of the body in a continuous marginal area of reduced wall thickness including the marginal area of the nose portion as indicated at 12, the reduced marginal wall 12 3 forming an integral part of and extending rearwardly from the thicker cross sectionof the wall .6.

According to my invention I provide a marginal cushioning means preferably formed integral with the mask body and which mayconsist of an air cell of thin, soft, flexible material preferably .having some resilient characteristics. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, this cell or cushion is indicated at 13 and is formed by .a thin sheet like extension :14 of the .relatively thick body wall 6, bowed to extend inwardly to the mask ,and also .rnarginally rearwardly thereof .to provide a marginal .cushion engageable with and, .by virtue of its soft, flexible cushioning characteristics, readily .conformingitself to the con-. tours of those portions .of the .human face with which it comes into contact in use.

The outer terminal andmarginal portions of this bowed, thin, flexible wall of the cell 13 are vulcanized, cemented or otherwise marginally secured to .themarginal ends of the reduced body wall 12 and forming at the junction area a peripheralor marginalbead 15.

As stated above, the :thin wall 14 of the cushioning cell is preferably formed integral with and as an extension of the thick .wall .6 .in molding .the mask body, :the outer .peripheralend of the bowed wall 14 being secured to or forming an integral part of the bead 15 and the Wall 12. In this manner, ,a soft pliable air cushion or cell 13 is formed between the rliner and :the reduced portion 12 of the mask body wall extending substantially around the entire periphery of the mask body at its face engaging end and rearwardlygof the mask so that when the mask is applied to a patientZs .face only the outer surface of the soft pliab1e.cushion will .engage and adjust itself to the contours .of .the patients face.

At 16 :is indicated .an inflation tube formed integral with the mask body and which has a passage 17 communicating with the air space ;or .cell 13.within the mask between the flexible wall 14 and the .semierigid walls-1'2 of the mask body. By thismeans air under light pressure or even atmospheric pressure may be admitted .into the cell or cushion 13 to provide apneumatie cufi or cushion peripherally arranged about the face engaging portions of the mask, such cuff or cushion extending forwardly within the mask a .sufiicient distance to provide .a substantially soft, bowed cushioning surface internally of .the mask which extends forwardly within the mask a sufficient distance and which has the ability to conform comfortably to the contour of the face and .to .provide a cutf or cushion having a face engaging area extending rom points at the bridge of the nose ,or face portion downwardly on both sides and terminating in the chin area in the lower part of the mask.

in accordance with my present invention, I have provided a very .simple yet effective .mask of this type that may easily be fitted to individual facecontours by physically shaping the mask .to a comfortable and sealing fit with the contours of the persons face and whereby after such shaping or fitting has :been accomplished, ,the mask and particularly .those ,portions defined by the walls 12 will retain its contour adjustment to which it has Lbeen subjected, and thus insure a sealing and comfortable fit of the mask to the patients face for ,as :long as desired while the mask is ,in use.

Therefore, in further carrying out the invention I provide means for accomplishing this result. One form .of such means is illustrated in {the accompanying drawings and may comprise .a member .of bendable, non-resilient material such as wire .18 :haying .the ability :to retain a configuration imparted to it. lfhis member may be embedded as'by molding it in the peripheral head 15 .formed at the junction of the :thin, gflexible air cell wall 14 and the peripheral ends of the reduced rear walls 12 of the mask bod-y. As illustrated in the drawing, I .employ a stiffening and reinforcing member 18 as indicated in Fig. which may be formed of a bendable wire such as cop per or similar material having non-resilient characteristics but which is sufliciently flexible so as to be easily shaped .or bent .to conform generally ,to the facial contours of the patient. Since the reinforcing member is embedded in the rear peripheral portion of the mask, it will readily be seen that that portion of the mask may easily be shaped to properly and comfortably adjust it in sealing relation to the contours of an individual pateints face and that by virtue of the member 18, such adjustment will be retained until changed by the operator.

The shaping and reinforcing member 18 constitutes a peripheral frame-like member and may be provided with a pluarlity of lugs 19 formed integrally therewith at spaced intervals about the periphery of the mask and projecting through the head portion outwardly and forwardly thereof, providing means ,by which a head harness indicated at 20 may be removably secured to the mask in adjusted position. The harness may comprise as an integral structure of elastic material such as rubber, an intermediate open rectangular portion including the occipital straps 21 and 22 connected by the straps ,23 ,as shown in Figure 7. The extended portion of the straps 2,1 and 22 are perforated as at 24 whereby to selectively receive the lugs 19 in adjusting and holding the mask to the patientls face.

The inflation tube 16 may be provided with a stopper or plug 25 :to retain the air trapped within the cuff or cush- From the above description and from the formof the invention illustrated .in the drawings, it will be clear that I have provided a distinct improvement in the art which enables a respiratory mask to be more comfortably fitted to the contours of the patients face while at the same time .preventinggas, which is supplied to the mask ;in the usual manner, from leaking or escaping between the rear marginalportion of the .mask and the patientisface in use.

It will also be understood that by my invention the peripheral portion of the mask particularly that portion formed by the wall 12 can readily be formed or shaped by the application of-light pressure against these portions whereby the reinforcing marginal frame embedded :inthe bead 15 will, because of its ability to sustain a ,form or shape imparted to it, also cause the adjacent portions of the mask walls to retain the shape and form to which they have been subjected.

Furthermore, the cuff or cell 13, having a soft, pliable, relatively thin wall which .is adapted to engage the face, assures a leak-proof and highly comfortable contact with the patients face at all times. This cuff, which is .preferably formed with a bulge, may be inflated under light pressure, although inflation in this sense is dispensable, if desired.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of :the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A facial mask for respiratory use comprising a hollow body molded to conform marginally generally to t e frontal contours of the human face, said body having a forward portion with an inlet opening therein, a face engaging marginal sealing cuff or cushion carried by said mask body, and a marginal bendable stiffening member molded in and enclosed by the mask marginal -,portion whereby substantially the entire marginal portion .ofithe mask and cuff may be shaped to retain a conformity to the contours of the face to which :it is applied and in sealing relation thereto.

2. In a mask for respiratory use, ,a hollow maskhody molded to conform marginally generally to the frontal contours of the human face, said body having an inlet opening, and means embedded in and extending along substantially .the entire marginal area of the mask body and forming -a permanent part of the mask body whereby said area may beshaped to conform to the faciaLcontours in sealing relation thereto.

3. In a mask for respiratory use, a semi-rigid hollow mask body molded to conform marginally generally to the frontal contours of the human face, said body having an inlet opening, and a bendable stiffening non-resilient member extending around and embedded in the marginal portion of the mask body whereby the mask may be shaped to conform to the contours of the human face.

4. In a mask for respiratory use, a hollow mask body molded to conform marginally generally to the frontal contours of the human face, said body having an inlet opening, and a peripheral shape-sustaining member extending around the said marginal portion of the mask body, said member comprising a bendable substantially non-resilient stiffening frame embedded in said marginal portion.

5. A facial mask for respiratory use comprising a hollow body molded to conform marginally generally to the frontal contours of the human face, said body having a forward portion with an inlet opening therein, a face engaging marginal air cell in said mask body, and a bendable stitfening member embedded in the mask marginal portion whereby the marginal portion of the mask and air cell may be shaped to conform to the contours of the face to which it is applied and in sealing relation thereto.

6. In a mask for respiratory use, the combination with a hollow mask body molded to conform marginally at its rear portion to the contours of the human face, said mask body having an inlet passage, and a marginal pneumatic cuff or cushion around the rear portion and extending outwardly of the mask for contact with the contours of a human face, of a marginal stiffening member embedded in said body whereby the entire marginal portion of the mask and the adjacent cufi portion may be shaped to sealingly conform to the contours of the face.

7. A facial mask for respiratory use comprising a hollow body molded to conform marginally generally to the frontal contours of the human face, said body having a forward portion with an inlet opening therein, a face engaging rear marginal sealing cuff or cushion carried by said mask body, said cuff being formed of soft airtight resilient material, the thickness of the walls of the rear marginal areas of the mask body being less than that of the remaining Walls of the mask body, said cuff including a portion forming with the inner surfaces of the relatively thinner marginal walls a peripheral pneumatic cell having portions projecting rearwardly and inwardly of the mask body for contact with the contours of a human face, and a bendable stiffening member embedded in the mask marginal portion whereby the marginal portion of the mask and cuff may be shaped to conform to the contours of the face to which it is applied and in sealing relation thereto.

8. In a mask for respiratory use, a hollow mask body molded to conform marginally generally to the frontal contours of the human face, said body having an inlet opening, means molded in and extending along substantially the entire marginal area of the mask body and forming a permanent part of the mask body whereby said area may be shaped to conform to the facial contours in sealing relation thereto, and a sealing cuff or cushion formed as an integral part of the mask body and extending substantially around the rear marginal portion of the mask body and projecting substantially within said rear marginal portion for sealing contact with the contours of a human face to which the mask is applied.

9. As a molded unitary structure, a mask body having a forwardly disposed inlet and having a rear marginal area, a marginal cuff or cushion formed integrally along substantially the entire rear marginal portion and projecting inwardly of said portion into the interior of the mask throughout its extent for cushioning and sealing contact with the contours of a human face to which the mask is to be applied.

10. As a molded unitary structure, a mask body having a forwardly disposed inlet and having a rear marginal area, a marginal cuff or cushion formed integrally along substantially the entire rear marginal portion and projecting inwardly of said portion into the interior of the mask throughout its extent for cushioning and sealing contact with the contours of a human face to which the mask is to be applied, and means embedded in and extending along substantially the entire rear marginal area of the mask body and forming a permanent part thereof whereby said area may be shaped to conform to the facial contours in sealing relation thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,105,127 Drager July 28, 1914 1,142,990 Stern June 15, 1915 1,359,073 King Nov. 16, 1920 1,837,591 Shindel Dec. 22, 1931 2,540,567 Bennett Feb. 6, 1951 2,765,788 Raiche Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,841 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1916 

